Emoni Bates shocks nation with Michigan State basketball commitment

Emoni Bates appeared on Sportscenter on Monday afternoon to make an announcement and Michigan State basketball fans could hardly take it.

What a day Monday has been. Usually it’s the least exciting day of any week because of everyone’s return to work, but you can bet there were no productive Michigan State fans at their respective offices on Monday after Emoni Bates posted he would be making an announcement on ESPN at 1:40 p.m. ET.

Would he be reclassifying? Announcing a college decision? It seemed as if nothing was about to happen but he announced his commitment to Michigan State.

There was talk about the announcement being just a reveal of his new prep school, Ypsi Prep Academy, but he took it one step further and committed to Tom Izzo and the Spartans.

Bates did give a disclaimer before making his decision, stating that he doesn’t know “what the future might hold” but this is no doubt the biggest commitment of the Izzo era.

Will Bates ever touch a college basketball court? Maybe, maybe not, but this just goes to show that Izzo is one of the best recruiters in the country and when every other college gave up on the young man because they assumed he was going pro, he reciprocated the love Michigan State showed him since he was in middle school.

Will Michigan State basketball see Emoni earlier?

It’s still possible that Emoni could reclassify to 2021 and that would make the Spartans’ class even more deadly with Pierre Brooks already committed and Jaden Akins and Max Christie on the radar.

What this does mean is that if Emoni does decide to go to college, he cemented his spot at Michigan State.

The rest of college basketball better hope this kid never suits up in green and white because he’s going to be a nightmare for defenses.